An ultramax bulker controlled by Yasa Shipping of Turkey has been hit by a projectile while underway from the port of Odessa, Ukraine.
The 61,100-dwt Yasa Jupiter (built 2019) was hit by a “shell or bomb” on Thursday at around 2pm local time (1pm GMT), according to an email sent by the vessel’s owner and seen by TradeWinds.
The bulker is under period charter to commodity trader Cargill, TradeWinds understands. It has just concluded a sub-charter to bulker giant Oldendorff Carriers.
A Turkish source close to Yasa Shipping confirmed the incident when approached by TradeWinds.
The source said there were no injuries onboard but the ship’s windows were shattered.
The bulker had been due to call at the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, but is now heading to Romania.
The vessel unloaded a cargo of bauxite at Odessa, according to data from bulker tracking platform Oceanbolt.
Turkey’s Maritime General Directorate confirmed the incident.
“Upon information that the Marshall Islands-flagged, Turkish-owned Yasa Jupiter ship was struck by a bomb off the coast of Odessa, it was learned that the ship has no request for help, is en route to Romanian waters, has no casualties and is safe,” the authority said on Twitter.
A spokesperson for Cargill told TradeWinds: “We can confirm this is a Cargill-chartered vessel and all crew are safe and accounted for.”
Yasa Shipping officials did not respond immediately for comment.
Article updated with comment from Cargill and details of vessel's previous employment.
